CA2257420A1 - A container for developing equipment - Google Patents

A container for developing equipment Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2257420A1
CA2257420A1 CA002257420A CA2257420A CA2257420A1 CA 2257420 A1 CA2257420 A1 CA 2257420A1 CA 002257420 A CA002257420 A CA 002257420A CA 2257420 A CA2257420 A CA 2257420A CA 2257420 A1 CA2257420 A1 CA 2257420A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
container
liquid
connection member
containers
set forth
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002257420A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Werner Burgeois
Georg Daffner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GID GmbH
Original Assignee
GID GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GID GmbH filed Critical GID GmbH
Priority to CA002257420A priority Critical patent/CA2257420A1/en
Priority to US09/218,044 priority patent/US6137965A/en
Publication of CA2257420A1 publication Critical patent/CA2257420A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03DAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D3/00Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion
    • G03D3/02Details of liquid circulation
    • G03D3/06Liquid supply; Liquid circulation outside tanks

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a container 1 for receiving and distributing liquids, which are employed in the development of photographic images. The container 1 comprises a liquid duct 2, which extending from a point in the vicinity of the floor of the container, extends to a connection member 3, arranged in the top region of the container, for receiving a connection means.

Description

A Container for devel~ing Equipment The invention relates to a container designed to receive and distribute liquids, which are employed in the development of photographic images. More especially, the invention relates to a containefor receiving liquid employed in the course of photographic development, in the case of which a liquid duct extends from a point in the vicinity of the floor of the container to a connection member, arranged in the top region of the container, to receive a connection device.
to Background of the Invention The development of photographic images is today performed in partially or even completely automatic equipment, in which the photographic material to be developed is run mechanically through the various baths arranged in the developing equipment and is if necessary subjected to a drying process at the end. As development equipment which is 15 presently in widespread use it is possible to name COM recorders (computer output on microfilm), and furthermore x-ray film developing machines, processor cameras and dental development equipment.
The liquids employed in such processes, as for example the developing or fixing liquid, are consumed during operation by reaction of the chemicals, with the material to be 2o developed so that the chemical contained in the bath becomes exhausted in the course of time.
In order to keep the developing action constant over a long period of time, the liquids in the baths are replenished from external containers in a manner dependent on the amount of the material to be processed to regenerate the liquid which has partly been expended. Since the bath of the respective liquid only has a limited volume, a volume of liquid must be removed 25 equal to the supplied volume of liquid used for replenishment. This as a rule is performed by returning the liquid into the container.
The connection between the chemicals container and the processing baths is generally by way of loose hose hanging down into the baths, a pump device being provided in the supply means leading into the processing bath. A disadvantage of this arrangement is not 3o only that there is a poor mixing of the returning liquid and the unused chemical present in the container, but also owing to the possibility of access of oxygen to the container there is also a high oxidation rate in the chemical contained in the container.
During the process of development the chemicals employed are frequently at high temperatures so that the liquids themselves must be heated. The heating of the liquids is generally so performed that the liquids are heated in the container or in the bath to an optimum temperature for processing and held there. One problem is in this respect that volatile components such as amines or amino alcohols are readily able to escape from heated liquids in open containers and may condense at various points within the equipment. Since the gases then escaping frequently develop a corrosive action, they may have a 1 o disadvantageous effect on the electrical control means of the development system, since the control elements, such as chips and other computer hardware present in the equipment are attacked by the gases.
A further problem occurring with replenishment from external containers is that the liquid is subject to oxidative degradation on contact with air, such degradation being even 15 more pronounced when the liquid is heated in the container itself.
The US patent 5,148,208 discloses a container for a photographic developing liquid, in the case of which the liquid in the container is heated from the outside through the surface of the container. The heat supplied to the container is controlled with the aid of a device for measuring temperature, which is also in contact with the wall of the container.
2o During the replacement of the storage container for replenishing the chemicals there is furthermore the danger of chemicals being spilled from or dripping out of the processing baths. Since the chemicals employed in the course of developing operations are hazardous to health, they constitute a potential danger for the operator of the equipment.
By the same token it is difficult and in most cases impossible, to clean things such as a clothing or parts of 25 the floor in the vicinity of the development equipment, once same have been soiled with developing liquid.
One object of the present invention is consequently to provide a container for receiving and distributing of a liquid employed for the development of photographic images.
with which oxidative degradation of the liquid itself may be reduced to a minimum.
30 Furthermore, the length of life of the chemicals used is to be prolonged.
A further object of the invention is to make available a container, with which contamination of the environment may be substantially prevented on changing the containers of the development equipment.
Description of the Invention 35 These objects are to the achieved by a container for receiving and distributing a liquid employed for photographic development, in the case of which a liquid duct extending from a point in the vicinity of the floor of the container extends to a connection member for receiving a connection device, said connection member being arranged in the top region of the container and being connected with the container.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the connection member is arranged on the wall which is opposite to the floor of the container.
Furthermore, it is possible for the connection member to be divided up by a partition means into a suction intake region and a return flow region, the suction intake region being joined with the liquid duct for the conduction of the liquid.
1o The connection member and the liquid duct are preferably made integrally with the container.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Figure I shows a container 1 in accordance with the invention having a liquid duct 2 leading to a connection member 3.
Figure 1(a) shows a view from above of the container 1, a part of the liquid duct 2 and the connection member 3 being depicted.
Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the connection member 2o 3, via which a suction/return means 7 for the liquid is arranged. This means 7 for removal and return of the liquid is divided up into a suction intake region 4' and a return region 5'.
Figure 2a further explains a preferred embodiment of the connection member 3, a partition being provided therein, which divides the connection member 3 into a suction intake region 4 and a return region 5.
Figure 3 diagrammatically shows one possibility for ;o coupling two containers in accordance with the invention.
Figure 4 diagrammatically shows an arrangement comprising six process containers, in the case of which the respective liquids are packaged together in two kits, each kit and having three containers for the baths 1 through 3 and.
respectively, 4 through 6.
The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof.
The container 1 for receiving a liquid possesses, in accordance with the usual design of such equipment, a floor and side walls. The container may have the form of a canister which walls extending in parallelism to one another, i. e. there is a floor wall 4, side walls and a cover, or it may be in the form of a bell-like container tapering in an upward direction. In this case it is possible for the connection member 3 itself to represent the top region of the 1 o container. Other geometrical forms suitable for such containers are also possible, the only restriction being the features of the particular development equipment.
The container is customarily manufactured of plastic, more particularly polyethylene, polypropylene, PET of composite materials.
On one side wall of the container in the vicinity of the floor of the container a liquid ~ 5 duct 2 is arranged, via which the liquid in the bottom region of the container 1 may be sucked up and passed to a connection member 3 arranged in the top region of the container. The liquid duct 2 may be manufactured integrally with the container 1.
In a wall in a region thereof remote from the floor the container has an opening, in which a connection member 3 is installed for receiving a device for the removal of the liquid 2o from the container. The connection member 3 is connected with the container in a sealed manner, as for example by means of a conventional fastening means, such as a screw thread or by clip means, or, in accordance with a preferred form of the invention, it may be manufactured integrally with the container 1. The connection member 3 possesses an opening in its one wall to receive the liquid duct , the opening being so spaced from the container that 25 simple application of the liquid duct 2 to the connection member 3 is possible.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the connection member 3 comprises a partitioning or separating means 6, which divides up the internal volume of the connection member 3 into a suction intake region 4 and a return flow region 5, a connection with the liquid duct 2 being provided because the duct opens into the suction intake region 4. In a 3o similar manner partitioning into a suction intake region 4' and a return flow region 5' may also be provided in the device 7 for the removal of liquid. In this respect the device 7 is introduced into the connection member 3 and by suitable seals, for instance O-ring seals, connected in a sealing fashion with the connection member 3 itself or the container.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the container 1 and furthermore the liquid 35 duct 2 and the connection member 3 are manufactured in one piece. In this embodiment it is possible for the liquid duct to be so designed that same may simultaneously serve as a carrying handle so that handling the container is facilitated.
For use of the container in accordance with the invention it is an advantage for same to be supplied in a kit with a plurality of containers. Such a kit will generally comprise at least two containers, which contain a developing liquid and a fixing liquid. The containers are then bound together using conventional means such as metal bands, means possibly provide with handles, for receiving and holding the containers in place. Kits with more than two containers are also comprised within the scope of the present invention, the further containers containing activators, second developers, bleaching baths, clarifying baths or the like.
For improvement of the keeping qualities of the developed material it is possible, in the case of equipment operating without washing, also to provide containers for residual thiosulfate neutralizer, rinsing solutions, stop baths, stabilizers and liquids for final baths. The number of containers collected together in a kit is only limited by the space requirements in the developing equipment.
t 5 It has turned out that such kits minimize the danger of incorrect connection together of the respective containers with the corresponding baths, the operation of the developing equipment being facilitated.
If containers are replaced after the respective liquid has become spent, there is a danger of products being spilled from or dripping out of the processing baths and coming into 2o contact with the surroundings and possibly with the operator of the equipment. In the case of the containers 1 of the invention after removal of shipping closures applied to the container 1 itself the connection member 3, the containers 1 are connected manually or automatically with the device for the removal of the liquid 7. In this respect the device 7 for the removal and return of the liquid a separation of the inlet and outlet is ensured, or such a separation is 25 produced even in the connection member 3 itself. In this respect the removal device 7 is so introduced into the connection member 3 that the suction intake region 4' completely surrounds the wall region of the connection member 3, in which the opening for the liquid duct 2 is located, and contact with the return region 5' is thus prevented. In a case such that a partitioning means for separation of a suction intake region 4 from a return region 5 is already 3o provided in the connection member 3, it is merely necessary for the respective connections to be produced with the corresponding supply and removal ducts to and from the processing bath.
The connection between the containers arid the processing baths is in accordance with the invention performed using a device 7, connected in a sealing fashion with the connection 35 member 3, for removal and return of the liquid. This means that further access of atmospheric oxygen to the chemicals container is prevented, something which increases the keeping properties and accordingly the degree of utilization of the liquids employed.
In the ducts leading to the processing baths a pump device is arranged, with which the liquid coming from the containers may be caused to circulate via the supply ducts, via the processing baths and via the removal ducts. In accordance with the invention in this case the liquid is drawn off via the liquid duct 2 in the vicinity of the floor of the container and is conveyed via the connection member 3 and the supply ducts to the processing baths. In the supply ducts it is possible to provide a device for heating or warming the liquid flowing therethrough, such device preferably comprising a heated loop of corrosion-resistant material.
1o Furthermore it is possible to provide filters for suspended materials, active carbon filters or the like at a suitable point.
On return the liquid coming from the processing baths is passed into the return region of the connection member 3 arranged on the canister and will run through the container's opening 8 into the container 1. Since liquid is drawn in near the floor of the container 1 and is returned again via the top region of the container, it is possible to ensure satisfactory mixing of the returned and stored liquid so that the chemical employed may ultimately be made full use of.
By the selection of a suitable structure of the processing system it is possible to have different residence times of the film material to be developed in the different baths. Thus it is possible for instance to double the development time by charging bath number I
and also bath number 2 with the same developer solution. Since during chemical development physical and chemical processes occur which differ as regards time, the two developers do not change equally. This effect may be taken into amount if developers with a different composition are utilized, something which is however relatively complex. Using the containers of the invention it is now possible to change over the two developers so that the chemical change in both baths is the same. Such a structure is for instance depicted in figure 3.
The bath number 1 is charged with developer solution from a first container, the return flow from bath number 1 being passed into the second container. The content of the second container is passed into bath number 2 and the return flow from this bath goes into container number 1.
By having 3o such a structure the there is ultimately a further increase in capacity.
After their contents have been used up the containers in accordance with the invention may be resealed with the shipping closures and disposed o~ Owing to particular design of the connection member 3 it is possible to prevent spillage of chemicals and to prevent contact of the chemicals with the operator of the development equipment.
;5 Furthermore the scope of the present invention also extends to a device, in which the chemicals are supplied in one direction from the container and/or the kits) with a plurality of containers the processing operation, there being no return to the containers.
In such cases it is possible to use not only ready-to-use processing solution but also regenerating solutions (refilling solutions), rejuvenating solutions (refreshing solutions) and furthermore concentrates and partial concentrates of multiple component products.

Claims (9)

1. A container (1) for liquid employed in photographic developing work, characterized by:
a liquid duct (2), which starting at a point in the vicinity of the floor of the container extends to a connection member (3), which is arranged in the top region of the container, for receiving a connection means.
2. The container (1) as set forth in claim 1, the connection member (3) being arranged on a wall opposite to the floor of the container (1).
3. The container (1) as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 2, an internal space in the connection member being divided by a partitioning means (6) into a suction intake region (4) and a return region (5), the suction intake region (4) being in contact with the liquid duct (2) in a liquid conducting manner.
4. The container (1) as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, in the case of which the connection member (3) is manufactured integrally with the container.
5. The container (1) as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, in the case of which the liquid duct (2) is integrally manufactured with the container.
6. The container (1) as set forth in any one of the preceding claims for the supply of liquids employed in photographic developing processes.
7. The use of a container (2) as set forth in claim 6, a plurality of containers being combined together in a kit.
8. The use of a container (2) as set forth in claim 6 or in claim 7, at least two
9 containers being coupled in a crossed over fashion so that the content of the containers is transferred to the bath respectively associated with same, whereas the return from the baths takes place into the respectively preceding or following container.
9. The use of one or a plurality of containers (2) as set forth in any one of the claims 1 through 5 in a computer output in microfilm (COM) system.
CA002257420A 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 A container for developing equipment Abandoned CA2257420A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002257420A CA2257420A1 (en) 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 A container for developing equipment
US09/218,044 US6137965A (en) 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 Container for developing equipment

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002257420A CA2257420A1 (en) 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 A container for developing equipment
US09/218,044 US6137965A (en) 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 Container for developing equipment

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2257420A1 true CA2257420A1 (en) 2000-06-22

Family

ID=32070419

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002257420A Abandoned CA2257420A1 (en) 1998-12-22 1998-12-22 A container for developing equipment

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US6137965A (en)
CA (1) CA2257420A1 (en)

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US6069714A (en) 1996-12-05 2000-05-30 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Method and apparatus for reducing noise in electronic film development
US6017688A (en) 1997-01-30 2000-01-25 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. System and method for latent film recovery in electronic film development
TW369623B (en) 1998-02-23 1999-09-11 Estman Kodak Company Progressive area scan in electronic film development
US6594041B1 (en) 1998-11-20 2003-07-15 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Log time processing and stitching system
US6404516B1 (en) 1999-02-22 2002-06-11 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Parametric image stitching
US6781620B1 (en) 1999-03-16 2004-08-24 Eastman Kodak Company Mixed-element stitching and noise reduction system
AU6202100A (en) 1999-06-29 2001-01-31 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Slot coating device for electronic film development
US6439784B1 (en) 1999-08-17 2002-08-27 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Method and system for using calibration patches in electronic film processing
US6707557B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2004-03-16 Eastman Kodak Company Method and system for estimating sensor dark current drift and sensor/illumination non-uniformities
US6540416B2 (en) * 1999-12-30 2003-04-01 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. System and method for digital film development using visible light
US6864973B2 (en) * 1999-12-30 2005-03-08 Eastman Kodak Company Method and apparatus to pre-scan and pre-treat film for improved digital film processing handling
US6813392B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2004-11-02 Eastman Kodak Company Method and apparatus for aligning multiple scans of the same area of a medium using mathematical correlation
US6788335B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2004-09-07 Eastman Kodak Company Pulsed illumination signal modulation control & adjustment method and system
US6447178B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2002-09-10 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. System, method, and apparatus for providing multiple extrusion widths
US6554504B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2003-04-29 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Distributed digital film processing system and method
AU2465001A (en) 1999-12-30 2001-07-16 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. System and method for digital color dye film processing
JP2003519410A (en) 1999-12-30 2003-06-17 アプライド、サイエンス、フィクシャン、インク Improved system and method for developing digital film using visible light
WO2001052556A2 (en) * 1999-12-30 2001-07-19 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Methods and apparatus for transporting and positioning film in a digital film processing system
US6475711B1 (en) 1999-12-31 2002-11-05 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Photographic element and digital film processing method using same
AU2733601A (en) * 1999-12-31 2001-07-16 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Digital film processing method
WO2001095028A2 (en) 2000-02-03 2001-12-13 Applied Science Fiction Method and system for self-service film processing
US6599036B2 (en) 2000-02-03 2003-07-29 Applied Science Fiction, Inc. Film processing solution cartridge and method for developing and digitizing film
US6619863B2 (en) 2000-02-03 2003-09-16 Eastman Kodak Company Method and system for capturing film images
US20060182337A1 (en) * 2000-06-28 2006-08-17 Ford Benjamin C Method and apparatus for improving the quality of reconstructed information
CN1520532A (en) 2001-02-09 2004-08-11 伊斯曼柯达公司 Digital film processing solutions and method of digital film processing
US6805501B2 (en) 2001-07-16 2004-10-19 Eastman Kodak Company System and method for digital film development using visible light
US7263240B2 (en) * 2002-01-14 2007-08-28 Eastman Kodak Company Method, system, and software for improving signal quality using pyramidal decomposition

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FZDE Discontinued